Towing with a Transit

[PapaverFollis]

Is there a reason not to? Assuming it has the towing capacity needed obviously... and there's a Ford Transit that has a 3.5T towing capacity. But is there another technical reason why not? I thought there was something to do with weights and tail wagging the dog? But I also assume that would be taken into account with the towing capacity? I'd want it to be able to tow 2 large horses in a 511.

Or is it that it just looks a bit odd?

We're thinking about towing vehicles and I kind of think a van would be more useful overall... room for the dogs, getting changed, tack locker type thing. Could camp in it if we went for proper adventures, with or without horses attached. Plus useful for life in general.

But the only people I've seen do it are kids whose dad has a work van, smaller horses and lighter trailers.

 

[Northern Hare]

An old colleague of mine used to tow with (I think!) her fathers Iveco van - from memory it was a “Daily”. She said it was fantastic to tow with as it had a low gear ratio and was very powerful. She used it to two two big hunters in an IWT 511. I’ve just had a quick Google and according to this article, the van can tow 3.5t which is pretty good. Although I do remember that she commented on the overall length of the van and trailer.

https://www.vansdirect.co.uk/large-vans-guide-towing-capacities

 

[wattamus]

We towed with a transit and now a Peugeot boxer. My husband is a plumber and we can’t afford a big 4x4 so the van takes up the slack! Obviously making sure the van is within towing capacity it important but there’s no reason not to!
I won’t deny you get some funny looks occasionally. We were actually at an event the other week and chatting away to some competitors, strangely enough when we got back to the car park and they realised they were parked next to us in the van, they seemed to not want to talk to us again haha.
But yes it’s very useful, lots of room for tack/ getting changed, and you don’t have to smell sweaty tack afterwards as there’s a nice big bulkhead in between!

 

[PapaverFollis]

Hahahaha! Is towing with a van considered to be "a bit common" as my mother would say? Filtering out snotty people from interacting with us is an actual advantage as far as I can see.

 

[wattamus]

Hahahaha! Is towing with a van considered to be "a bit common" as my mother would say? Filtering out snotty people from interacting with us is an actual advantage as far as I can see.

From my experience you do get a few more looks! The van is also fully signed up for my husbands business (so it’s also free advertising lol)
Yes we have had some snotty looks and our experience last week was a bit upsetting, but that being said I agree with you, not having to interact with people is actually preferable haha
But yes I do like the van, sod the snobs! (And it’s cheaper overall to run than your 4x4’s with equivalent towing capacity) :-D
Us in action

 

[scruffyponies]

Interesting, as it would be handy to be able to put a driving vehicle in the van and tow the ponies, as well as a van being more useful generally than a 4x4.

...but then, is that any better than a 3.5tonne box and a trailer for the vehicle.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

The only problem I have seen is that in wet muddy conditions the van..not being 4 wheel drive..slipped and slid and couldn’t pull the laden trailer out of the field.

 

[ROG]

HB511 is 2700kg MAM
What is the actual weight you will be towing ??????????

I cannot work out why you need a 3500 towing capacity .......

 

[Tiddlypom]

The only problem I have seen is that in wet muddy conditions the van..not being 4 wheel drive..slipped and slid and couldn’t pull the laden trailer out of the field.

This.

That said, some campsites actually prohibit sign written vans towing caravans, and the non sign written ones are presumed to be traveller vehicles . So just be aware of the prejudices against them.

 

[Annagain]

I know someone who tows with a VW camper and that seems to work well but the towing capacity isn’t 3.5t on them. I’d be a bit worried about how light the back end of a transit is unless it’s fully loaded. I know some of the 4x4 type pickups are prone to jackknifing because of this.

 

[Spottyappy]

My OH has a VW 4Motion, which is a 4 wheel drive van. We don’t usually tow with it, but no reason why we couldn’t. The off road capability is great, I imagine would give most 4x4 a good run for their money if it needed to.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I didn't say I needed a 3.5T towing capacity. Just that there is a Ford Transit van that has one... which indicates that there are vans that have a towing capacity equal too and greater than what is needed for the ifor and 2 big horses. I currently have a Landrover. I like that I'm never going to even get close to capacity so it tows what we need it to easily.

Thank for your thoughts everyone.

 

[Leo Walker]

There's a few driving people towing with vans. They put the carriage in the van and the horses in the trailer

 

[abcd1]

I tow with both a van and jeep. The van tows fine however it doesnt cope well on anything remotely muddy.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

My farrier tows with her farrier van 😂

 

[cremedemonthe]

I have a Ford Transit, tyres are bad in the wet let alone mud so as long as you have fairly rugged treaded tyres you might be ok

 

[cundlegreen]

Hahahaha! Is towing with a van considered to be "a bit common" as my mother would say? Filtering out snotty people from interacting with us is an actual advantage as far as I can see.

Best thing I ever saw was a Rolls Royce towing a pig trailer in Barnsley. Never seen that before or since....

 

[tristar]

when i was18 i used to help a rich lady move her horses around in a trailer and she towed with rolls royce

 

[bubsqueaks]

I know someone who tows with a VW camper and that seems to work well but the towing capacity isn’t 3.5t on them. I’d be a bit worried about how light the back end of a transit is unless it’s fully loaded. I know some of the 4x4 type pickups are prone to jackknifing because of this.

Oh that's interesting as I am seriously considering doing this in the next couple of years & did wonder if anybody else was towing this way.
Want to buy a VW camper & transition from 6.5 ton to trailer when competing less so reassuring to know it would be an option
Thank you

 

[milliepops]

My OH has a VW 4Motion, which is a 4 wheel drive van. We don’t usually tow with it, but no reason why we couldn’t. The off road capability is great, I imagine would give most 4x4 a good run for their money if it needed to.

yep Farrier OH has one which is a godsend in the snow etc. Get some funny looks zipping around when other vans would be skidding off the road tho but no downtime due to bad weather we don't have a horse trailer but supervan has delivered a lot of haylage on the flatbed.

 

[Fransurrey]

We have transits (my OH is a commercial vehicle mechanic) and they are great to tow with. People are right about them slipping on a cow pat, though, so shows might be an issue if it's field parking. Some Ivecos have transit engines in, too, so are worth considering. You can get 4wd transits (County), but they're like transits on stilts, so top heavy.

There is a range of models though that are prone to blowing their engines. I'll ask my OH when he gets in which to look out for.